Official UK procurement notice
Dilution Refrigerator for Cryogenic Characterisation of RF Hardware
Authority: NPL Management Limited (Public body)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionNPL is seeking engagement from suppliers who can provide "Dry" ("cryogen-free") pulse tube cooled dilution refrigerator system to be used for characterisation of quantum hardware including RF and quantum circuits with sample volume under vacuum. The system should include thermometry and associated wiring and readout electronics with provision to integrate additional temperature sensors in future for comprehensive diagnostics. The purpose is to complement our existing measurement systems and add measurement capability, for characterisation of quantum and RF hardware with high throughput and faster cooldowns repeated typically every 2 weeks.
The dilution refrigerator needs to be suitable for RF measurements of complex quantum circuits and hardware, meaning it must be equipped with 20+ coaxial lines with provision to further increase the number of coaxial lines in the future. These lines must include high attenuation input lines suitable for use with sensitive quantum devices such as superconducting qubits and parametric amplifiers and low-loss output coaxial lines suitable for use with low-noise amplifiers, isolators and parametric amplifiers. Some of these coaxial lines must operate up to 40 GHz with provision to integrate even higher frequency RF cabling in the future. There should be sufficient number of DC lines with sufficient reconfigurability to enable biasing of at least tens of RF multi-way switches, at least four low noise amplifiers and few dedicated high resistance and low resistance DC looms for devices under test with provision to integrate more DC looms in the future.
The asset must enable the characterisation of quantum and cryogenic RF hardware based on the following:
- Base temperature of less than or equal to 10 mK with access to PT2 and other intermediate stages for testing components at intermediate temperatures.
- Mixing chamber plate area of at least 0.19m2 in horizontal space and vertical experimental apparatus
- We do NOT require a magnet
CPV: Electrical machinery, apparatus, equipment and consumables; lighting · Industrial machinery · Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · no lot value publishedProcedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Direct award
- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Procurement category
- Goods
- Notice status
- Awarded without competition
- Procurement threshold
- Above threshold (FTS publication)
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- Commercial structure
- Stand-alone contract (no framework)
- Competition type
- Direct award (no call for competition)
- GPA / WTO covered
- Unspecified in notice
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 20 Apr 2026, 10:43 BST
- Last source update
- 2 Oct 2026, 10:49 BST
- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-093195- Latest notice
- Contract award notice (UK6)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-0685feFind a Tender
- Why no open competition
- Switching Direct Award
- Published justification
Following a terminated tender process due to no suitable bids in response to a call for competition, where NPL discharged our duty to go to the market, NPL is switching to direct award under section 43 of PA23.
How it was run
Official notice- Submission deadline
- —
Timeline
20 Apr 2026 → 13 Oct 2026 · 5 dates- Planning notice published184 days ago20 Apr 2026, 10:43 BST
- Market engagement174 days ago30 Apr 2026, 23:59 BST
Prior to initiating the procurement, NPL wishes to establish the level of market interest in the forthcoming procurement process.
Suitably qualified and experienced suppliers who may have an interest in this project are invited to register for this Preliminary Market Engagement.
The purpose of the market engagement is to help assess the reaction of the market, to understand risks and future possibilities to ensure a future proofed procurement strategy and resulting contract.
Any submission received in response to this exercise will not constitute any contractual agreement between the respondent and NPL. Nor does the receipt of a response automatically include the respondent in the procurement process.
A Tender Notice will be issued to the market which will provide details of how the relating procurement documentation can be accessed and timescales for submission of the said tender response.
Interested parties shall bear their own costs of participation in this Market Engagement of whatever nature. NPL shall not be liable for the costs, expenses or losses howsoever arising (including, without limitation, any loss of profit or other economic loss incurred), regardless of the outcome of the Market Engagement.
The next stage in the process will be considered once this exercise has been completed.
- Contract starts24 days ago28 Sept 2026, 00:00 BST
- Latest notice published19 days ago2 Oct 2026, 10:49 BST
- Standstill ends8 days ago13 Oct 2026, 23:59 BST
Notice history
6 events · 3 releases on Find a Tender · since 20 Apr 2026- Preliminary market engagement notice published20 Apr 2026, 10:43 BSTUK2
- Transparency notice published2 Oct 2026, 10:43 BSTUK5
- Status changed to complete2 Oct 2026, 10:43 BST
- Procurement method changed2 Oct 2026, 10:43 BST
- Contract award notice published2 Oct 2026, 10:49 BSTUK6
- Contract signature expected14 Oct 2026, 23:59 BSTscheduled
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oxford Nanoscience Limited14 Oct 2026 – 14 Oct 2026 | £687,000 | 2 Oct 2026standstill to 13 Oct 2026 | Standstill |
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Bidders & participating suppliers
1 commercial party on the notice- OXFORD NANOSCIENCE LIMITEDAwarded supplier
Official documents & specifications (3)
Official links; attachments are not copiedNotices published for this procedure
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Transparency notice Transparency notice on Find a Tender
- Preliminary market engagement notice Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender